News & Views

Because storytelling is important, and the advertising industry is hilarious.

If there's one word that sums up the current mood in the advertising industry, it's 'Storytelling' - and nobody knows more about storytelling than The Moth, a non-profit organisation dedicated to celebrating the art of a good tale well told. (Be sure to sign up for one of their weekly podcasts. Your week is not complete without them.)

For the second year running, Contagious is teaming up with The Moth and our friends at Organic to bring the annual Storyslam to New York's Advertising Week. An open-mic, anything goes session, we'll be inviting members of the audience, industry luminaries all, to share their stories on the subject of 'My Worst Day In Advertising.'

Last year, contestants recounted horrors such as the time their mother had called up their Chief Creative Officer boss to tell him he wouldn't know good advertising if it bit him on the ass; and the winning entry involved a series of disasters that culminated in being locked in a toilet as a client pitch happened outside. It was an absolute blast, and we're delighted to be participating again in what's quickly becoming the must-attend, laugh-your-ass-off, place to be during Advertising Week.

The StorySLAMformat is simple: five minutes, no notes, no stand-up comedy routines, rants or essays. We're assembling a high profile jury of amazing judges to pick a worthy winner.

Moth stories range from the funny and profane to the deadly serious and heartbreaking, of which there is surely plenty of fodder in our fine industry. For a good example, here's Jeff Simmermon's story from a recent StorySLAM in New York.

So come out, and bring your best story and volunteer for the telling. We can't WAIT to hear how badly wrong it all went.